DEVELOPING TIMES: Life In Beni

Welcome

Mission Statement
Rural Empowerment Initiatives (REI) mission is to collaborate in the reduction of poverty through investment in rural areas and training of local people.

Vision Statement
REI's vision is to treat every created being with dignity, respect and love. We strive to work with those most in need by empowering people to recognize their God given talents, enabling them to make the world a better place and providing them hope for the future.

Our Principles
REI believes that all people are created equal.
REI will develop small to medium businesses (SMEs) as one approach to reach those most in need by creating jobs that build the economy in rural areas.
REI's partner businesses will be led, managed and majority owned by local people.
REI will always seek a triple bottom line of economic, spiritual and social transformation.
REI seeks to build sustainable community-oriented business models.
REI's focus of support is to the economically disadvantaged.
REI will seek attractive market and growth opportunities.
REI will incubate pilot projects with capable management.
REI believes in collaboration. We seek partners whose strengths complement our own in an effort to build well-rounded projects of lasting economic value for the communities in which we work.
REI is inspired by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and is therefore rooted in the Christian faith.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Life In Beni

What is amazing about this area is the resiliency of these people. What they must have gone through with the war here would be traumatizing to most people. But not here, people are so resilient.
4 million people have lost there lives here in the last 7-8 years...and really it's hard to see it on the streets. People move about...motorbikes act as Taxi's and bicycles here have a different meaning.
The next week i will traveling to a nearby village, to get a view of rural living, interviewing more students and staff, visiting with local people and building relationships that hope will be lifelong friendships.